Stem cell therapy slows heart aging in rats

Stem cell therapies are already beginning to make great strides in slowing the aging process, with numerous studies showing that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can reverse the damage aging inflicts on the body. Now a new study has shown that MSCs have the power to both protect the heart against additional damage after a heart attack and slow its aging process at the same time.

MSCs are found in bone marrow and can be manipulated in a lab setting to become various other cell types, such as cardiomyocytes or heart muscle cells, neurons, osteoblasts and smooth muscle cells. They can also be used to promote the generation of more cartilage, fat and bone cells, making them an ideal choice for attempts at repairing aging-related damage.

Published in the journal STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, the study examined the effects of treating rats modeled for heart disease with MSC injections. The researchers found that the MSCs had an antioxidant effect on the rats' heart cells, preventing damage due to oxidation and thereby slowing the aging process. They are hopeful that this discovery can be used to help humans recover from heart disease and live longer in the near future.

Anthony Atala, M.D., the director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the editor of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, said in a press release, "This study helps unravel the efficacy of these cells in fighting cardiac aging and delineates the underlying mechanisms. The results suggest a promising therapeutic approach for treating heart failure in the elderly population."

For more information about what stem cell therapies and anti aging medicine can do for you, contact the Longevity Centres of America today.